“America, as a country, breeds great athletes. Now we just need to be a little bit better with the ball, and I think that’s coming up quick,” Gonzalez, who plays for the Los Angeles Galaxy, told Conan O’Brien in an interview (above) on Monday night. “And I think other teams around the world should be scared.”

And although Team USA didn’t go all the way, Gonzalez was happy to see that Germany did.

“I wanted them to win because they were in our group. And it just shows how tough it was in our group, having to come out of that,” Gonzalez said. “They’re a tough team with a lot of great players. I’m just happy we kept them at 1-0.”

O’Brien said he observed American appreciation for soccer go “into hyperspace” during this year’s World Cup, and TheWrap did, too. Team USA’s last game in the international tournament broke ratings records set by the team just a week earlier.

“Being down in Brazil and seeing all of the fan support, everyone going to the group showings, it was fantastic to see how many people were rallying behind us,” Gonzalez said. “It’s amazing. I hope it keeps going. I hope people just don’t stop watching now. They can follow MLS teams.”